When the floor was briefly opened to questions, Cellucci responded to queries about education, town legislation and the presidential race.

Cellucci said he supported school voucher programs and reaffirmed his opposition to rent control, but he also stressed that he believed politicians' goals ought to be tempered by understanding of their constituents' wishes.

"You try to work with communities," he said. "You don't shove things down their throats."

"I believe in public life, you have to be listening," he added, mentioning that he often travels to talk to his constituents. "You stay at the State House all the time, it's a little like Fantasyland."

Like an increasing number of Republican governors, Cellucci also emphatically endorsed Bush for his party's presidential nomination.

"He's really been what I would call a very inclusive governor," Cellucci said. "If the Republicans expect to win the White House next year, they need someone inclusive."

"I go back a long way with the Bush family," he added, describing them as "good, decent people."